Adjustment Disorders and Suicidality

Abstract

In this study two rating scales, the Echelle d'Evaluation de Risque Suicidaire and the Pierce-modified form of the Suicide Intent Scale, were administered to a group of 43 persons admitted to the general hospital of Padua for suicide attempts. The purpose of our study was to verify whether these tools could be considered useful in the assessment of severity of the attempts. The rating scales showed good concordance in identifying the adjustment disorder group as less dangerous for the seriousness of the attempt.

The prediction of suicidal intent in depressed patients

“…These findings are in agreement with those of De Leo et al (15), who reported that suicidal risk is higher in major depressed than in minor depressed patients. In other words, suicidal ideation increased along the depressive spectrum of depressive subtypes, i.e.…”

“…These findings are in agreement with those of De Leo et al (15), who reported that suicidal risk is higher in major depressed than in minor depressed patients. De Leo et al (15) postulated that psychological stressors which lead to an adjustment disorder, such as divorce, serious family problems, a professional crisis, etc., mean that some subjects attempt suicide more readily in order to influence their environment. In the present study, we were unable to demonstrate a significant relationship between the depression subgroups and the number of depressed patients who had attempted suicide.…”

“…from adjustment disorder with depressed mood to dysthymic disorder, to major depression, to melancholia and psychotic depression. These findings are in agreement with those of De Leo et al (15), who reported that suicidal risk is higher in major depressed than in minor depressed patients. O'Brien et al (16) found a significant association between severity of depression and suicidal ideation with increasing age.…”

“…A second factor that could contribute to the absence of an association between suicide attempts and severity of depression is the finding that patients with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood constitute a highly vulnerable group for suicidal behaviour. De Leo et al (15) postulated that psychological stressors which lead to an adjustment disorder, such as divorce, serious family problems, a professional crisis, etc., mean that some subjects attempt suicide more readily in order to influence their environment. A third factor that may explain our findings is that patients may show a significant reduction in the severity of depression, soon after a attempted suicide, independently of clinical diagnosis (18,19).…”

Differentiating and Managing Common Psychiatric Comorbidities Seen in Chronic Pain Patients

“…Although future research may ultimately show that adjustment disorder is a form of subclinical depression, the fact remains that persons identified as having adjustment disorder are often associated with being at risk for increased morbidity and even mortality (i.e., suicide). 63 It is important to note that persons with adjustment disorder have been shown to have positive outcomes when treated with brief psychotherapy. 64 This allows for the possibility of early intervention before a problem worsens to the point of requiring more intensive care and medications.…”